A look at marine pilots and their work on board ships

Oct 02, 2023

Today I’m answering a listener question about what pilots do when they are on board a ship. It’s a big topic and I thought it would make a good show. So today, a quick glimpse at the complicated and demanding job that marine pilots do daily here on the Columbia River.

A look at marine pilots and their work on board ships

A look at marine pilots and their work on board ships

Today I’m answering a listener question about what pilots do when they are on board a ship. It’s a big topic and I thought it would make a good show. So today, a quick glimpse at the complicated and demanding job that marine pilots do daily here on the Columbia River.

Man overboard incident highlights maritime job risks, especially in fall and winter

Sep 29, 2023

This week, a crewmember on a ship approaching Boston harbor fell overboard. He was rescued and died at the hospital.

This incident highlights the risky nature of maritime work, especially in fall and winter months. A similar incident happened here on the Columbia a number of years ago. We’ll talk about why rescues like this can fail despite everyone’s best efforts. And how maritime work is hazardous year round.

Man overboard incident highlights maritime job risks, especially in fall and winter

Man overboard incident highlights maritime job risks, especially in fall and winter

This week, a crewmember on a ship approaching Boston harbor fell overboard. He was rescued and died at the hospital.

This incident highlights the risky nature of maritime work, especially in fall and winter months. A similar incident happened here on the Columbia a number of years ago. We’ll talk about why rescues like this can fail despite everyone’s best efforts. And how maritime work is hazardous year round.

Repositioning cruises visit Astoria as fall arrives

Sep 28, 2023

With cruise ships in town the past two days, you might be wondering what cruise ships are doing coming to Astoria in the fall, especially with the weather being a bit of a issue the past few days. Aren’t cruises a summer thing? Turns out they can also be an off season thing. That’s thanks to the concept of the “repositioning cruise.”

For folks who like a slower paced, perhaps longer cruise, that’s cheaper than one you might take in the summer – and if you like the idea of spending more time at sea than in port – this could be the cruise for you.

Photo: The Majestic Princess is visiting Astoria today on a repositioning cruise. Photo credit: Joanne Rideout

Repositioning cruises visit Astoria as fall arrives

Repositioning cruises visit Astoria as fall arrives

With cruise ships in town the past two days, you might be wondering what cruise ships are doing coming to Astoria in the fall, especially with the weather being a bit of a issue the past few days. Aren’t cruises a summer thing? Turns out they can also be an off season thing. That’s thanks to the concept of the “repositioning cruise.”

For folks who like a slower paced, perhaps longer cruise, that’s cheaper than one you might take in the summer – and if you like the idea of spending more time at sea than in port – this could be the cruise for you.

Photo: The Majestic Princess is visiting Astoria today on a repositioning cruise. Photo credit: Joanne Rideout

Ship traffic moves through as weather eases

Sep 27, 2023

We’ve got one fast moving storm to deal with today and then a break in the weather (we hope!). We’ll look at who’s here on the river today, and why it’s good to see ships in the anchorage on stormy days like this. (Hint: tired mariners need a rest from storms at sea.)

Man overboard incident highlights maritime job risks, especially in fall and winter

Ship traffic moves through as weather eases

We’ve got one fast moving storm to deal with today and then a break in the weather (we hope!). We’ll look at who’s here on the river today, and why it’s good to see ships in the anchorage on stormy days like this. (Hint: tired mariners need a rest from storms at sea.)

Weather drama continues, and we’ll talk about forecasting

Sep 26, 2023

“If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute” – that’s an old saying. But some folks get mad when they don’t like the weather, and blame the forecasters. We’ll talk about why weather prediction, especially on the coast here, is part art and part science. And sometimes the weather itself couldn’t give a hoot about our ideas about what should happen.

Weather drama continues, and we’ll talk about forecasting

Weather drama continues, and we’ll talk about forecasting

“If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute” – that’s an old saying. But some folks get mad when they don’t like the weather, and blame the forecasters. We’ll talk about why weather prediction, especially on the coast here, is part art and part science. And sometimes the weather itself couldn’t give a hoot about our ideas about what should happen.

Some days it’s all about the weather

Sep 25, 2023

Today’s stormy weather is a great opportunity to talk about how weather can affect ship traffic, and what it means when the Columbia River Bar is on Yellow, or even Red, status. All part of fall and winter on the mighty Columbia.

Some days it’s all about the weather

Some days it’s all about the weather

Today’s stormy weather is a great opportunity to talk about how weather can affect ship traffic, and what it means when the Columbia River Bar is on Yellow, or even Red, status. All part of fall and winter on the mighty Columbia.